Category Archives: Pediatric Cancer

Medical/Research

‘Dream come true’: Tumor Paint BLZ-100 gets go-ahead for first U.S. trial

A new protein-linked dye derived from scorpion venom that lights up cancer cells so surgeons can precisely target brain tumors will get a trial run in the U.S., Blaze Bioscience Inc. officials announced Thursday.

Food and Drug Administration officials have approved an investigational new drug application, or IND, for Tumor Paint BLZ-100, a molecule discovered and first developed by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington.

“I think it really is a dream come true – to be outdone only by seeing these cancers light up in patients,” said Dr. Jim Olson, a Fred Hutch pediatric brain cancer expert who pioneered the notion of targeting tumors with fluorescent dye to help surgeons distinguish healthy cells from malignancies.

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Medical/Research

Is a Phase I Clinical Trial Right for You?

You’re probably familiar with the term “clinical trial.” And if you or someone you care about is a patient at Memorial Sloan Kettering, it’s even more likely you’ve heard the phrase before, since these studies have played an integral role in the fight against cancer.

By definition, a clinical trial is a research study that tests a new medical approach in a group of people to make sure it is safe and effective. All of the drugs used to treat people with cancer today were developed through a series of carefully constructed clinical trials.

We conduct one of the largest clinical research programs in the world. In 2013, our physicians led more than 1,200 clinical research studies for adult and pediatric cancers.

“We learn from all of these studies, which build upon each other and ultimately lead to new discoveries and improved treatments for patients,” says medical oncologist Paul Sabbatini, Deputy Physician-in-Chief for Clinical Research at MSK.

The first step in testing a new drug in humans is called a phase I trial. These studies offer eligible patients the chance to try an innovative treatment that in most cases has some preclinical data suggesting it might have activity against a particular type of cancer.

In this Q&A, Dr. Sabbatini sheds light on how phase I clinical trials are conducted at MSK and how to determine whether patients may be eligible for one. Stay tuned to our blog next month for a second post, in which he will demystify common misconceptions surrounding clinical trials.

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Awareness Month 2014, News, Updates, Videos

Devon Still jerseys are in, sent with heartfelt note

The team didn’t give up on Still or his family, inviting him back to the team’s practice squad. It gave him money, health insurance and the time he needs to help his little girl.

But the community also rallied around the Bengals player.

Devon Still’s football jersey went on sale to raise proceeds for pediatric cancer research. The money goes to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, ranked among the top medical centers for childhood cancer research in the country, according to the U.S. News & World Report.

At a price tag of $100, Still’s No. 75 is the fastest-selling jersey in team history. As of Sept. 12, roughly 40,000 jerseys were sold to raise money for pediatric cancer research. That’s nearly $400,000 for pediatric cancer research in just four days.

Sales continue to soar.

As fans and supporters of Still and his family started receiving their jerseys, they noticed a personal note from the player inside, thanking them for their support.

The note read:

“I want to thank you for supporting my family and my daughter Leah through your generosity. It means a lot to me, and it means a lot to families fighting cancer in Cincinnati and across the country. Thank you for giving — we appreciate it more than you know.”

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Alex's Friends, Awareness Month 2014, News

Meet the ‘momcologists’: The fiercest warriors against childhood cancer

They are the “momcologists,” a nickname for the moms — and dads! — who know the horrific toll cancer takes on families and have dedicated their lives to helping others.

“We are every day moms all of a sudden thrown into this crazy cancer world and have to learn everything,” said Sherwood, 42, of Marlboro, New Jersey. “I probably know more than the average pediatrician about cancer.”

These parents have raised millions to find cures, helped families cope with the blow of a new diagnosis and offered financial support for lost wages, hotels during grueling treatments and sadly, for funerals.

For some, the work lasts long beyond the diagnosis, continuing the fight after a child is cancer free and even after a child has died.

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Awareness Month 2014, News

Alabama QB puts Iron Bowl rivalry aside to honor Auburn student with cancer

Sometimes there is more to sports than who wins or loses, and sometimes even the most heated rivalry in college football can be put aside for the greater good.

Saturday was one of those times.

When Alabama quarterback Blake Sims took the field against Florida, he wore a new accessory on his right wrist, a purple bracelet that simply read “Kayla.” It was a tribute to Kayla Perry, a 19-year-old college student who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a type of pediatric cancer that typically presents itself in very young children and infants, 18 months ago.

Perry is currently a freshman at Auburn University.

“Hey guys, you know I’m an Auburn Tiger, but even college rivalries can come together when it matters,” Perry posted Saturday on Facebook with a picture of Sims. “Many thanks to University of Alabama QB Blake Sims for seeing my story, and asking to wear my bracelet this week, and today, especially!”

With the bracelet on, Sims played the best game of his college career. The senior threw for 445 yards and four touchdowns in the Crimson Tide’s 42-21 win over Florida.

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The two haven’t met yet, but Perry has a mutual acquaintance who is trying to set up a meeting. In the meantime, she’s just happy that by wearing the bracelet, Sims was able to raise awareness to childhood cancer research and the lack of funding that is going into it.

“We really want people to see this and see this as a problem and take a stand and step up and do something,” Perry said. “When people like Blake step up and they show their support for a cause, it makes other people want to get involved, too. So we’re really glad that he did that and thankful.”

Sims isn’t the only player to show support. Auburn wide receiver Sammie Coates wore the same bracelet last Thursday when the Tigers played Kansas State, and his head coach Gus Malzahn has asked to meet with Perry on Tuesday.

Perry, who launched a website to raise funds for pediatric cancer research on Sept. 1, has already raised over $50,000, her mother said.

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News

Dick Vitale honored with Heart of Gold Award by Pediatric Cancer Foundation

Lakewood Ranch’s Dick Vitale received the inaugural Heart of Gold Award presented by the Pediatric Cancer Foundation on Thursday in Tampa.

Then he got a surprise.

Following the presentation, Vitale was informed that moving forward the award will be known as the Dick Vitale Heart of Gold Award.

College basketball and ESPN’s greatest ambassador was humbled by the gesture.

“Until I take my last breath, raising money and awareness for pediatric cancer research is my life,” Vitale said.

Vitale was selected because of his passion, commitment to research and efforts to raise money for pediatric cancer.

“The Heart of Gold Award is awarded to an individual or group of individuals that are compassionate about finding a cute and devoted to funding pediatric cancer research,” said Nancy Crane, executive director of PCF.

This past year, Vitale and his annual Dick Vitale Gala raised more than $2.1 million for the V Foundation.

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Medical/Research, News, Videos

Fight for compassionate use reform goes to Washington

A proposed new law could make it easier for terminally ill patients to get access to potentially life-saving drugs. The process, known as expanded access, or compassionate use, was a topic at this year’s annual Childhood Cancer Summit in Washington, D.C., Friday.

The summit is the yearly meeting of the Childhood Cancer Caucus, co-founded in 2009 by Central Texas Congressman Michael McCaul, in order to better direct Congressional resources and efforts to the cause of preventing pediatric cancer.

McCaul was also a friend of Austin attorney Andrea Sloan, 45, who waged a brave, public battle for compassionate use in 2013 while in the final stages of ovarian cancer. After months of requests, an anonymous drug company ultimately granted Sloan compassionate use of a drug, but her disease had progressed quickly and she passed away on Jan. 1, 2014.

McCaul said he is ready to introduce new legislation in Congress in Sloan’s honor that would keep other patients from having to wait so long for their requests to be granted—time they do not have.

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News, Videos

Father Of Cancer Patient Repays Act Of Kindness In Beautiful Way

To this day, Darren Greenwood doesn’t know who was responsible for the care package, but it couldn’t have come at a better time.

It was 2011 and Darren’s son, Joe, was about to be diagnosed with leukemia.

Joe, 17 at the time, had begun feeling ill during a family vacation and had gone to see his doctor upon their return. After looking at the results of his blood tests, the doctor told Joe and his parents they needed to go directly from their home in Ripon, outside of Modesto, to the Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center.

They arrived late. They were tired. They were hungry.

That’s when they got the care package.

“Somebody at some time had made some kind of donation to the hospital,” Darren says, “so that new leukemia patients and their families would get one.” Darren says, in retrospect, it wasn’t important what was in the package, just that it was there.

“It was just the coolest thing,” Darren says, holding back tears, “that somebody somewhere was thinking about you.”

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